Inbred maize line PH24M

ABSTRACT

An inbred maize line, designated PH24M, the plants and seeds of inbred maize line PH24M, methods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred line PH24M with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line PH24M with another maize line or plant.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is in the field of maize breeding, specifically relatingto an inbred maize line designated PH24M.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of plant breeding is to combine in a single variety or hybridvarious desirable traits. For field crops, these traits may includeresistance to diseases and insects, tolerance to heat and drought,reducing the time to crop maturity, greater yield, and better agronomicquality. With mechanical harvesting of many crops, uniformity of plantcharacteristics such as germination and stand establishment, growthrate, maturity, and plant and ear height, is important.

Field crops are bred through techniques that take advantage of theplant's method of pollination. A plant is self-pollinated if pollen fromone flower is transferred to the same or another flower of the sameplant. A plant is cross-pollinated if the pollen comes from a flower ona different plant.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type for manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny. A cross between twodifferent homozygous lines produces a uniform population of hybridplants that may be heterozygous for many gene loci. A cross of twoplants each heterozygous at a number of gene loci will produce apopulation of hybrid plants that differ genetically and will not beuniform.

Maize (zea mays L.), often referred to as corn in the United States, canbe bred by both self-pollination and cross-pollination techniques. Maizehas separate male and female flowers on the same plant, located on thetassel and the ear, respectively. Natural pollination occurs in maizewhen wind blows pollen from the tassels to the silks that protrude fromthe tops of the ears.

A reliable method of controlling male fertility in plants offers theopportunity for improved plant breeding. This is especially true fordevelopment of maize hybrids, which relies upon some sort of malesterility system. There are several options for controlling malefertility available to breeders, such as: manual or mechanicalemasculation (or detasseling), cytoplasmic male sterility, genetic malesterility, gametocides and the like.

Hybrid maize seed is typically produced by a male sterility systemincorporating manual or mechanical detasseling. Alternate strips of twomaize inbreds are planted in a field, and the pollen-bearing tassels areremoved from one of the inbreds (female). Providing that there issufficient isolation from sources of foreign maize pollen, the ears ofthe detasseled inbred will be fertilized only from the other inbred(male), and the resulting seed is therefore hybrid and will form hybridplants.

The laborious, and occasionally unreliable, detasseling process can beavoided by using cytoplasmic male-sterile (CMS) inbreds. Plants of a CMSinbred are male sterile as a result of factors resulting from thecytoplasmic, as opposed to the nuclear, genome. Thus, thischaracteristic is inherited exclusively through the female parent inmaize plants, since only the female provides cytoplasm to the fertilizedseed. CMS plants are fertilized with pollen from another inbred that isnot male-sterile. Pollen from the second inbred may or may notcontribute genes that make the hybrid plants male-fertile. Seed fromdetasseled fertile maize and CMS produced seed of the same hybrid can beblended to insure that adequate pollen loads are available forfertilization when the hybrid plants are grown.

There are several methods of conferring genetic male sterilityavailable, such as multiple mutant genes at separate locations withinthe genome that confer male sterility, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.4,654,465 and 4,727,219 to Brar et al. and chromosomal translocations asdescribed by Patterson in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,861,709 and 3,710,511. Theseand all patents referred to are incorporated by reference. In additionto these methods, Albertsen et al., of Pioneer Hi-Bred, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 07/848,433, have developed a system of nuclear malesterility which includes: identifying a gene which is critical to malefertility; silencing this native gene which is critical to malefertility; removing the native promoter from the essential malefertility gene and replacing it with an inducible promoter; insertingthis genetically engineered gene back into the plant; and thus creatinga plant that is male sterile because the inducible promoter is not "on"resulting in the male fertility gene not being transcribed. Fertility isrestored by inducing, or turning "on", the promoter, which in turnallows the gene that confers male fertility to be transcribed.

There are many other methods of conferring genetic male sterility in theart, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. These methods use avariety of approaches such as delivering into the plant a gene encodinga cytotoxic substance associated with a male tissue specific promoter oran antisense system in which a gene critical to fertility is identifiedand an antisense to that gene is inserted in the plant (see:Fabinjanski, et al. EPO 89/3010153.8 publication no. 329,308 and PCTapplication PCT/CA90/00037 published as WO 90/08828).

Another system useful in controlling male sterility makes use ofgametocides. Gametocides are not a genetic system, but rather a topicalapplication of chemicals. These chemicals affect cells that are criticalto male fertility. The application of these chemicals affects fertilityin the plants only for the growing season in which the gametocide isapplied (see Carlson, Glenn R., U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,904). Application ofthe gametocide, timing of the application and genotype specificity oftenlimit the usefulness of the approach.

The use of male sterile inbreds is but one factor in the production ofmaize hybrids. The development of maize hybrids requires, in general,the development of homozygous inbred lines, the crossing of these lines,and the evaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrentselection breeding methods are used to develop inbred lines frombreeding populations. Breeding programs combine the genetic backgroundsfrom two or more inbred lines or various other germplasm sources intobreeding pools from which new inbred lines are developed by selfing andselection of desired phenotypes. The new inbreds are crossed with otherinbred lines and the hybrids from these crosses are evaluated todetermine which of those have commercial potential. Plant breeding andhybrid development are expensive and time consuming processes.

Pedigree breeding starts with the crossing of two genotypes, each ofwhich may have one or more desirable characteristics that is lacking inthe other or which complements the other. If the two original parents donot provide all the desired characteristics, other sources can beincluded in the breeding population. In the pedigree method, superiorplants are selfed and selected in successive generations. In thesucceeding generations the heterozygous condition gives way tohomogeneous lines as a result of self-pollination and selection.Typically in the pedigree method of breeding five or more generations ofselfing and selection is practiced: F₁ →F₂ ; F₃ →F₄ ; F₄ →F₅, etc.

Recurrent selection breeding, backcrossing for example, can be used toimprove an inbred line. Backcrossing can be used to transfer a specificdesirable trait from one inbred or source to an inbred that lacks thattrait. This can be accomplished, for example, by first crossing asuperior inbred (recurrent parent) to a donor inbred (non-recurrentparent), that carries the appropriate gene(s) for the trait in question.The progeny of this cross is then mated back to the superior recurrentparent followed by selection in the resultant progeny for the desiredtrait to be transferred from the non-recurrent parent. After five ormore backcross generations with selection for the desired trait, theprogeny will be heterozygous for loci controlling the characteristicbeing transferred, but will be like the superior parent for most oralmost all other genes. The last backcross generation is then selfed togive pure breeding progeny for the gene(s) being transferred.

A single cross maize hybrid results from the cross of two inbred lines,each of which has a genotype that complements the genotype of the other.The hybrid progeny of the first generation is designated F₁. In thedevelopment of commercial hybrids only the F₁ hybrid plants are sought.Preferred F₁ hybrids are more vigorous than their inbred parents. Thishybrid vigor, or heterosis, can be manifested in many polygenic traits,including increased vegetative growth and increased yield.

The development of a maize hybrid involves three steps: (1) theselection of plants from various germplasm pools for initial breedingcrosses; (2) the selfing of the selected plants from the breedingcrosses for several generations to produce a series of inbred lines,which, although different from each other, breed true and are highlyuniform; and (3) crossing the selected inbred lines with differentinbred lines to produce the hybrid progeny (F₁). During the inbreedingprocess in maize, the vigor of the lines decreases. Vigor is restoredwhen two different inbred lines are crossed to produce the hybridprogeny (F₁). An important consequence of the homozygosity andhomogeneity of the inbred lines is that the hybrid between a definedpair of inbreds will always be the same. Once the inbreds that give asuperior hybrid have been identified, the hybrid seed can be reproducedindefinitely as long as the homogeneity of the inbred parents ismaintained.

A single cross hybrid is produced when two inbred lines are crossed toproduce the F₁ progeny. A double cross hybrid is produced from fourinbred lines crossed in pairs (A×B and C×D) and then the two F₁ hybridsare crossed again (A×B)×(C×D). Much of the hybrid vigor exhibited by F₁hybrids is lost in the next generation (F₂). Consequently, seed fromhybrids is not used for planting stock.

Hybrid seed production requires elimination or inactivation of pollenproduced by the female parent. Incomplete removal or inactivation of thepollen provides the potential for self pollination. This inadvertentlyself pollinated seed may be unintentionally harvested and packaged withhybrid seed.

Once the seed is planted, it is possible to identify and select theseself pollinated plants. These self pollinated plants will be geneticallyequivalent to the female inbred line used to produce the hybrid.

Typically these self pollinated plants can be identified and selecteddue to their decreased vigor. Female selfs are identified by their lessvigorous appearance for vegetative and/or reproductive characteristics,including shorter plant height, small ear size, ear and kernel shape,cob color, or other characteristics.

Identification of these self pollinated lines can also be accomplishedthrough molecular marker analyses. See, "The Identification of FemaleSelfs in Hybrid Maize: A Comparison Using Electrophoresis andMorphology", Smith, J. S. C. and Wych, R. D., Seed Science andTechnology 14, pp. 1-8 (1995), the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated herein by reference. Through these technologies, thehomozygosity of the self pollinated line can be verified by analyzingallelic composition at various loci along the genome. Those methodsallow for rapid identification of the invention disclosed herein. Seealso, "Identification of Atypical Plants in Hybrid Maize Seed byPostcontrol and Electrophoresis" Sarca, V. et al., Probleme de GeneticaTeoritica si Aplicata Vol. 20 (1) p. 29-42.

As is readily apparent to one skilled in the art, the foregoing are onlytwo of the various ways by which the inbred can be obtained by thoselooking to use the germplasm. Other means are available, and the aboveexamples are illustrative only.

Maize is an important and valuable field crop. Thus, a continuing goalof plant breeders is to develop high-yielding maize hybrids that areagronomically sound based on stable inbred lines. The reasons for thisgoal are obvious: to maximize the amount of grain produced with theinputs used and minimize susceptibility of the crop to pests andenvironmental stresses. To accomplish this goal, the maize breeder mustselect and develop superior inbred parental lines for producing hybrids.This requires identification and selection of genetically uniqueindividuals that occur in a segregating population. The segregatingpopulation is the result of a combination of crossover events plus theindependent assortment of specific combinations of alleles at many geneloci that results in specific genotypes. The probability of selectingany one individual with a specific genotype from a breeding cross isinfinitesimal due to the large number of segregating genes and theunlimited recombinations of these genes, some of which may be closelylinked. However, the genetic variation among individual progeny of abreeding cross allows for the identification of rare and valuable newgenotypes. These new genotypes are neither predictable nor incrementalin value, but rather the result of manifested genetic variation combinedwith selection methods, environments and the actions of the breeder.

Thus, even if the entire genotypes of the parents of the breeding crosswere characterized and a desired genotype known, only a few, if any,individuals having the desired genotype may be found in a largesegregating F₂ population. Typically, however, neither the genotypes ofthe breeding cross parents nor the desired genotype to be selected isknown in any detail. In addition, it is not known how the desiredgenotype would react with the environment. This genotype by environmentinteraction is an important, yet unpredictable, factor in plantbreeding. A breeder of ordinary skill in the art cannot predict thegenotype, how that genotype will interact with various climaticconditions or the resulting phenotypes of the developing lines, exceptperhaps in a very broad and general fashion. A breeder of ordinary skillin the art would also be unable to recreate the same line twice from thevery same original parents as the breeder is unable to direct how thegenomes combine or how they will interact with the environmentalconditions. This unpredictability results in the expenditure of largeamounts of research resources in the development of a superior new maizeinbred line.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided a novel inbred maize line,designated PH24M. This invention thus relates to the seeds of inbredmaize line PH24M, to the plants of inbred maize line PH24M, and tomethods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred linePH24M with itself or another maize line. This invention further relatesto hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred linePH24M with another maize line.

Definitions

In the description and examples that follow, a number of terms are usedherein. In order to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, including the scope to be given such terms,the following definitions are provided. NOTE: ABS is in absolute termsand %MN is percent of the mean for the experiments in which the inbredor hybrid was grown. These designators will follow the descriptors todenote how the values are to be interpreted. Below are the descriptorsused in the data tables included herein.

ANT ROT=ANTHRACNOSE STALK ROT (Colletotrichum graminicola). A 1 to 9visual rating indicating the resistance to Anthracnose Stalk Rot. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

BAR PLT=BARREN PLANTS. The percent of plants per plot that were notbarren (lack ears).

BRT STK=BRITTLE STALKS. This is a measure of the stalk breakage near thetime of pollination, and is an indication of whether a hybrid or inbredwould snap or break near the time of flowering under severe winds. Dataare presented as percentage of plants that did not snap.

BU ACR=YIELD (BUSHELS/ACRE). Yield of the grain at harvest in bushelsper acre adjusted to 15.5% moisture.

CLD TST=COLD TEST. The percent of plants that germinate under cold testconditions.

CLN=CORN LETHAL NECROSIS. Synergistic interaction of maize chloroticmottle virus (MCMV) in combination with either maize dwarf mosaic virus(MDMV-A or MDMV-B) or wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV). A 1 to 9 visualrating indicating the resistance to Corn Lethal Necrosis. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

COM RST=COMMON RUST (Puccinia sorghi). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicatingthe resistance to Common Rust. A higher score indicates a higherresistance.

D/D=DRYDOWN. This represents the relative rate at which a hybrid willreach acceptable harvest moisture compared to other hybrids on a 1-9rating scale. A high score indicates a hybrid that dries relatively fastwhile a low score indicates a hybrid that dries slowly.

DIP ERS=DIPLODIA EAR MOLD SCORES (Diplodia maydis and Diplodiamacrospora). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toDiplodia Ear Mold. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

DRP EAR=DROPPED EARS. A measure of the number of dropped ears per plotand represents the percentage of plants that did not drop ears prior toharvest.

D/T=DROUGHT TOLERANCE. This represents a 1-9 rating for droughttolerance, and is based on data obtained under stress conditions. A highscore indicates good drought tolerance and a low score indicates poordrought tolerance.

EAR HT=EAR HEIGHT. The ear height is a measure from the ground to thehighest placed developed ear node attachment and is measured in inches.

EAR MLD=General Ear Mold. Visual rating (1-9 score) where a "1" is verysusceptible and a "9" is very resistant. This is based on overall ratingfor ear mold of mature ears without determining the specific moldorganism, and may not be predictive for a specific ear mold.

EAR SZ=EAR SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating of ear size. The higher therating the larger the ear size.

ECB 1LF=EUROPEAN CORN BORER FIRST GENERATION LEAF FEEDING (Ostrinianubilalis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance topreflowering leaf feeding by first generation European Corn Borer. Ahigher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECB 2IT=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION INCHES OF TUNNELING(Ostrinia nubilalis). Average inches of tunneling per plant in thestalk.

ECB 2SC=EUROPEAN CORN BORER SECOND GENERATION (Ostrinia nubilalis). A 1to 9 visual rating indicating post flowering degree of stalk breakageand other evidence of feeding by European Corn Borer, Second Generation.A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

ECB DPE=EUROPEAN CORN BORER DROPPED EARS (Ostrinia nubilalis). Droppedears due to European Corn Borer. Percentage of plants that did not dropears under second generation corn borer infestation.

EST CNT=EARLY STAND COUNT. This is a measure of the stand establishmentin the spring and represents the number of plants that emerge on perplot basis for the inbred or hybrid.

EYE SPT=Eye Spot (Kabatiella zeae or Aureobasidium zeae). A 1 to 9visual rating indicating the resistance to Eye Spot. A higher scoreindicates a higher resistance.

FUS ERS=FUSARIUM EAR ROT SCORE (Fusarium moniliforne or Fusariumsubglutinans). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toFusarium ear rot. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

GDU=Growing Degree Units. Using the Barger Heat Unit Theory, whichassumes that maize growth occurs in the temperature range 50° F.-86° F.and that temperatures outside this range slow down growth; the maximumdaily heat unit accumulation is 36 and the minimum daily heat unitaccumulation is 0. The seasonal accumulation of GDU is a major factor indetermining maturity zones.

GDU SHD=GDU TO SHED. The number of growing degree units (GDUs) or heatunits required for an inbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50percent of the plants shedding pollen and is measured from the time ofplanting. Growing degree units are calculated by the Barger Method,where the heat units for a 24-hour period are: ##EQU1##

The highest maximum temperature used is 86° F. and the lowest minimumtemperature used is 50° F. For each inbred or hybrid it takes a certainnumber of GDUs to reach various stages of plant development.

GDU SLK=GDU TO SILK. The number of growing degree units required for aninbred line or hybrid to have approximately 50 percent of the plantswith silk emergence from time of planting. Growing degree units arecalculated by the Barger Method as given in GDU SHD definition.

GIB ERS=GIBBERELLA EAR ROT (PINK MOLD) (Gibberella zeae). A 1 to 9visual rating indicating the resistance to Gibberella Ear Rot. A higherscore indicates a higher resistance.

GLF SPT=Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Gray Leaf Spot. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

GOS WLT=Goss' Wilt (Corynebacterium nebraskense). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Goss' Wilt. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

GRN APP=GRAIN APPEARANCE. This is a 1 to 9 rating for the generalappearance of the shelled grain as it is harvested based on such factorsas the color of harvested grain, any mold on the grain, and any crackedgrain. High scores indicate good grain quality.

H/POP=YIELD AT HIGH DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively high plantdensities on 1-9 relative rating system with a higher number indicatingthe hybrid responds well to high plant densities for yield relative toother hybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, andvery good yield response, respectively, to increased plant density.

HC BLT=HELMINTHOSPORIUM CARBONUM LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporiumcarbonum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance toHelminthosporium infection. A higher score indicates a higherresistance.

HD SMT=HEAD SMUT (Sphacelotheca reiliana). This score indicates thepercentage of plants not infected.

INC D/A=GROSS INCOME (DOLLARS PER ACRE). Relative income per acreassuming drying costs of two cents per point above 15.5 percent harvestmoisture and current market price per bushel.

INCOME/ACRE. Income advantage of hybrid to be patented over other hybridon per acre basis.

INC ADV=GROSS INCOME ADVANTAGE. GROSS INCOME advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

KSZ DCD=KERNEL SIZE DISCARD. The percent of discard seed; calculated asthe sum of discarded tip kernels and extra large kernels.

L/POP=YIELD AT LOW DENSITY. Yield ability at relatively low plantdensities on a 1-9 relative system with a higher number indicating thehybrid responds well to low plant densities for yield relative to otherhybrids. A 1, 5, and 9 would represent very poor, average, and very goodyield response, respectively, to low plant density.

MDM CPX=MAIZE DWARF MOSAIC COMPLEX (MDMV=Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus andMCDV=Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating theresistance to Maize Dwarf Mosaic Complex. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

MST=HARVEST MOISTURE. The moisture is the actual percentage moisture ofthe grain at harvest.

MST ADV=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE. The moisture advantage of variety #1 overvariety #2 as calculated by: MOISTURE of variety #2--MOISTURE of variety#1=MOISTURE ADVANTAGE of variety #1.

NLF BLT=Northern Leaf Blight (Helminthosporium turcicum or Exserohilumturcicum). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to NorthernLeaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

PLT HT=PLANT HEIGHT. This is a measure of the height of the plant fromthe ground to the tip of the tassel in inches.

POL SC=POLLEN SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount ofpollen shed. The higher the score the more pollen shed.

POL WT=POLLEN WEIGHT. This is calculated by dry weight of tasselscollected as shedding commences minus dry weight from similar tasselsharvested after shedding is complete.

It should be understood that the inbred can, through routinemanipulation of cytoplasmic or other factors, be produced in amale-sterile form. Such embodiments are also contemplated within thescope of the present claims.

POP K/A=PLANT POPULATIONS. Measured as 1000 s per acre.

POP ADV=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE. The plant population advantage ofvariety #1 over variety #2 as calculated by PLANT POPULATION of variety#2--PLANT POPULATION of variety #1=PLANT POPULATION ADVANTAGE of variety#1.

PRM=PREDICTED RELATIVE MATURITY. This trait, predicted relativematurity, is based on the harvest moisture of the grain. The relativematurity rating is based on a known set of checks and utilizes standardlinear regression analyses and is also referred to as the ComparativeRelative Maturity Rating System that is similar to the MinnesotaRelative Maturity Rating System.

PRM SHD=A relative measure of the growing degree units (GDU) required toreach 50% pollen shed. Relative values are predicted values from thelinear regression of observed GDU's on relative maturity of commercialchecks.

RT LDG=ROOT LODGING. Root lodging is the percentage of plants that donot root lodge; plants that lean from the vertical axis at anapproximately 300 angle or greater would be counted as root lodged.

RTL ADV=ROOT LODGING ADVANTAGE. The root lodging advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

SCT GRN=SCATTER GRAIN. A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the amount ofscatter grain (lack of pollination or kernel abortion) on the ear. Thehigher the score the less scatter grain.

SDG VGR=SEEDLING VIGOR. This is the visual rating (1 to 9) of the amountof vegetative growth after emergence at the seedling stage(approximately five leaves). A higher score indicates better vigor.

SEL IND=SELECTION INDEX. The selection index gives a single measure ofthe hybrid's worth based on information for up to five traits. A maizebreeder may utilize his or her own set of traits for the selectionindex. One of the traits that is almost always included is yield. Theselection index data presented in the tables represent the mean valueaveraged across testing stations.

SLF BLT=SOUTHERN LEAF BLIGHT (Helminthosporium maydis or Bipolarismaydis). A 1 to 9 visual rating indicating the resistance to SouthernLeaf Blight. A higher score indicates a higher resistance.

SOU RST=SOUTHERN RUST (Puccinia polysora). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Southern Rust. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

STA GRN=STAY GREEN. Stay green is the measure of plant health near thetime of black layer formation (physiological maturity). A high scoreindicates better late-season plant health.

STD ADV=STALK STANDING ADVANTAGE. The advantage of variety #1 overvariety #2 for the trait STK CNT.

STK CNT=NUMBER OF PLANTS. This is the final stand or number of plantsper plot.

STK LDG=STALK LODGING. This is the percentage of plants that did notstalk lodge (stalk breakage) as measured by either natural lodging orpushing the stalks and determining the percentage of plants that breakbelow the ear.

STW WLT=Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii). A 1 to 9 visual ratingindicating the resistance to Stewart's Wilt. A higher score indicates ahigher resistance.

TAS BLS=TASSEL BLAST. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to measure thedegree of blasting (necrosis due to heat stress) of the tassel at thetime of flowering. A 1 would indicate a very high level of blasting attime of flowering, while a 9 would have no tassel blasting.

TAS SZ=TASSEL SIZE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate therelative size of the tassel. The higher the rating the larger thetassel.

TAS WT=TASSEL WEIGHT. This is the average weight of a tassel (grams)just prior to pollen shed.

TEX EAR=EAR TEXTURE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to indicate therelative hardness (smoothness of crown) of mature grain. A 1 would bevery soft (extreme dent) while a 9 would be very hard (flinty or verysmooth crown).

TILLER=TILLERS. A count of the number of tillers per plot that couldpossibly shed pollen was taken. Data are given as a percentage oftillers: number of tillers per plot divided by number of plants perplot.

TST WT=TEST WEIGHT (UNADJUSTED). The measure of the weight of the grainin pounds for a given volume (bushel).

TST WTA=TEST WEIGHT ADJUSTED. The measure of the weight of the grain inpounds for a given volume (bushel) adjusted for 15.5 percent moisture.

TSW ADV=TEST WEIGHT ADVANTAGE. The test weight advantage of variety #1over variety #2.

WIN M%=PERCENT MOISTURE WINS.

WIN Y%=PERCENT YIELD WINS.

YLD=YIELD. It is the same as BU ACR ABS.

YLD ADV=YIELD ADVANTAGE. The yield advantage of variety #1 over variety#2 as calculated by: YIELD of variety #1--YIELD variety #2=yieldadvantage of variety #1.

YLD SC=YIELD SCORE. A 1 to 9 visual rating was used to give a relativerating for yield based on plot ear piles. The higher the rating thegreater visual yield appearance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Inbred maize lines are typically developed for use in the production ofhybrid maize lines. Inbred maize lines need to be highly homogeneous,homozygous and reproducible to be useful as parents of commercialhybrids. There are many analytical methods available to determine thehomozygotic and phenotypic stability of these inbred lines.

The oldest and most traditional method of analysis is the observation ofphenotypic traits. The data is usually collected in field experimentsover the life of the maize plants to be examined. Phenotypiccharacteristics most often observed are for traits associated with plantmorphology, ear and kernel morphology, insect and disease resistance,maturity, and yield.

In addition to phenotypic observations, the genotype of a plant can alsobe examined. There are many laboratory-based techniques available forthe analysis, comparison and characterization of plant genotype; amongthese are Isozyme Electrophoresis, Restriction Fragment LengthPolymorphisms (RFLPs), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs),Arbitrarily Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs), and Simple SequenceRepeats (SSRs) which are also referred to as Microsatellites.

The most widely used of these laboratory techniques are IsozymeElectrophoresis and RFLPs as discussed in Lee, M., "Inbred Lines ofMaize and Their Molecular Markers," The Maize Handbook,(Springer-Verlag, New York, Inc. 1994, at 423-432) incorporated hereinby reference. Isozyme Electrophoresis is a useful tool in determininggenetic composition, although it has relatively low number of availablemarkers and the low number of allelic variants among maize inbreds.RFLPs have the advantage of revealing an exceptionally high degree ofallelic variation in maize and the number of available markers is almostlimitless.

Maize RFLP linkage maps have been rapidly constructed and widelyimplemented in genetic studies. One such study is described inBoppenmaier, et al., "Comparisons among strains of inbreds for RFLPs",Maize Genetics Cooperative Newsletter, 65:1991, pg. 90, is incorporatedherein by reference. This study used 101 RFLP markers to analyze thepatterns of 2 to 3 different deposits each of five different inbredlines. The inbred lines had been selfed from 9 to 12 times before beingadopted into 2 to 3 different breeding programs. It was results fromthese 2 to 3 different breeding programs that supplied the differentdeposits for analysis. These five lines were maintained in the separatebreeding programs by selfing or sibbing and rogueing off-type plants foran additional one to eight generations. After the RFLP analysis wascompleted, it was determined the five lines showed 0-2% residualheterozygosity. Although this was a relatively small study, it can beseen using RFLPs that the lines had been highly homozygous prior to theseparate strain maintenance.

Inbred maize line PH24M is a dent maize inbred that is best suited as amale in crosses for producing first generation F₁ maize hybrids. Inbredmaize line PH24M is best adapted to the Southeastern region of theUnited States and can be used to produce hybrids from approximately 115relative maturity based on the Comparative Relative Maturity RatingSystem for harvest moisture of grain. Inbred maize line PH24Mdemonstrates high yield, large ear size, good pollen shed, and overallgood male traits. In hybrid combination, PH24M demonstrates high yieldand good standability with good ear placement. For its area ofadaptation, PH24M demonstrates good resistance to Stewart's Wilt,Anthracnose Stalk Rot, Southern Leaf Blight and Common Rust.

The inbred has shown uniformity and stability within the limits ofenvironmental influence for all the traits as described in the VarietyDescription Information (Table 1) that follows. The inbred has beenself-pollinated and ear-rowed a sufficient number of generations withcareful attention paid to uniformity of plant type to ensure thehomozygosity and phenotypic stability necessary to use in commercialproduction. The line has been increased both by hand and in isolatedfields with continued observation for uniformity. No variant traits havebeen observed or are expected in PH24M.

Inbred maize line PH24M, being substantially homozygous, can bereproduced by planting seeds of the line, growing the resulting maizeplants under self-pollinating or sib-pollinating conditions withadequate isolation, and harvesting the resulting seed, using techniquesfamiliar to the agricultural arts.

                                      TABLE 1                                     __________________________________________________________________________    VARIETY DESCRIPTION INFORMATION                                               VARIETY = PH24M                                                               __________________________________________________________________________     1. TYPE: (describe intermediate types in Comments section):                  2     1 = Sweet 2 = Dent 3 = Flint 4 = Flour 5 = Pop 6 = Ornamental            2. MATURITY:                                                                 DAYS    HEAT UNITS                                                            076     1,522.5                                                                              From emergence to 50% of plants in silk                        074     1,478.8                                                                              From emergence to 50% of plants in pollen                      005     0,131.8                                                                              From 10% to 90% pollen shed                                    067     1,164.3                                                                              From 50% silk to harvest at 25% moisture                        3. PLANT:                      Standard                                                                             Sample                                                                 Deviation                                                                            Size                                   0,220.3                                                                             cm Plant Height (to tassel tip)                                                                         17.25 4                                       0,068.8                                                                             cm Ear Height (to base of top ear node)                                                                 3.40  4                                       0,015.4                                                                             cm Length of Top Ear Internode                                                                          1.28  20                                      1        Average Number of Tillers                                                                            0.00  4                                       1.5      Average Number of Ears per Stalk                                                                     0.58  4                                       3.0      Anthocyanin of Brace Roots: 1 = Absent 2 = Faint 3 = Moderate 4               = Dark                                                                4. LEAF:                       Standard                                                                             Sample                                                                 Deviation                                                                            Size                                   010.3 cm Width of Ear Node Leaf 0.84  20                                      076.8 cm Length of Ear Node Leaf                                                                              5.66  20                                      07.3     Number of leaves above top ear                                                                       0.79  20                                      040.3    Degrees Leaf Angle (measure from 2nd leaf above                                                      5.50  4                                                ear at anthesis to stalk above leaf)                                 03       Leaf Color Dark Green (Munsell code)                                                                        5GY44                                  1.0      Leaf Sheath Pubescence (Rate on scale from 1 = none to 9 = like               peach fuzz)                                                          6.5      Marginal Waves (Rate on scale from 1 = none to 9 = many)             6.8      Longitudinal Creases (Rate on scale from 1 = none to 9 = many)        5. TASSEL:                     Standard                                                                             Sample                                                                 Deviation                                                                            Size                                   08.1     Number of Primary Lateral Branches                                                                   3.69  20                                      036.0    Branch Angle from Central Spike                                                                      18.76 4                                       59.8  cm Tassel Length (from top leaf collar to tassel tip)                                                   2.01  4                                       6.8      Pollen Shed (rate on scale from 0 = male sterile 9 = heavy                    shed)                                                                07       Anther Color    Yellow (Munsell code)                                                                             7.5Y8.58                         01       Glume Color     Light Green                                                                          (Munsell code)                                                                             5GY86                            1.0      Bar Glumes (Glume Bands): 1 = Absent 2 = Present                     20       Peduncle Length (cm. from top leaf to basal branches)                 6a. EAR (Unhusked Data):                                                     11    Silk Color (3 days after emergence)                                                               Pink  (Munsell code)                                                                             10RP58                           1     Fresh Husk Color (25 days after 50% silking)                                                      Light Green                                                                         (Munsell code)                                                                             5GY78                            21    Dry Husk Color (65 days after 50% silking)                                                        Buff  (Munsell code)                                                                             2.5Y84                           1     Position of Ear at Dry Husk Stage: 1 = Upright 2 = Horizontal 3 =             Pendant                                Upright                          4     Husk Tightness (Rate of Scale from 1 = very loose to 9 = very                 tight)                                                                  2     Husk Extension (at harvest): 1 = Short (ears exposed) 2 = Medium              (<8 cm)                                Medium                                 3 = Long (8-10 cm beyond ear tip) 4 = Very Long (>10 cm)                 6b. EAR (Husked Ear Data):     Standard                                                                             Sample                                                                 Deviation                                                                            Size                                   15    cm Ear Length             0.98  20                                      44    mm Ear Diameter at mid-point                                                                            2.03  20                                      113   gm Ear Weight             21.06 20                                      19       Number of Kernel Rows  0.49  20                                      2        Kernel Rows: 1 =Indistinct 2 = Distinct                                                                           Distinct                         1        Row Alignment: 1 = Straight 2 = Slightly Curved 3                                                                 Straight                         10    cm Shank Length           0.48  20                                      2        Ear Taper: 1 =Slight 2 =Average 3 = Extreme                                                                       Average                           7. KERNEL (Died):              Standard                                                                             Sample                                                                 Deviation                                                                            Size                                   10    mm Kernel Length          0.75  20                                      7     mm Kernel Width           0.28  20                                      4     mm Kernel Thickness       0.50  20                                      7        % Round Kernels (Shape Grade)                                                                        3.94  4                                       1        Aleurone Color Pattern: 1 = Homozygous 2 = Segregating.                                                           Homozygous                       7        Aluerone Color  Yellow (Munsell code)                                                                             2.5Y812                          7        Hard Endosperm Color                                                                          Yellow (Munsell code)                                                                             2.5Y812                          3        Endosperm Type: Normal Starch                                                 1 = Sweet (Su1) 2 = Extra Sweet (sh2) 3 = Normal Starch                       4 = High Amylose Starch 5 = Waxy Starch 6 = High Protein                      7 = High Lysine 8 = Super Sweet (se) 9 = High Oil                             10 = Other.sub.--------                                              20   gm Weight per 100 Kernels (unsized sample)                                                               4.55  4                                        8. COB:                        Standard                                                                             Sample                                                                 Deviation                                                                            Size                                   28   mm Cob Diameter at mid-point                                                                             1.47  20                                      14      Cob Color Red           (Munsell code)                                                                             5YR78                            2       Cob Strength 1 = Weak 2 = Strong                                       9. DISEASE RESISTANCE                                                                      (Rate from 1 (most susceptible) to 9 (most resistant);                        leave blank                                                                   if not tested; leave Race or Strain Options blank if                          polygenic):                                                     A. Leaf Blights, Wilts, and Local Infection Diseases                                  Anthracnose Leaf Blight ( Colletotrichum graminicola)                 4       Common Rust (Puccinia sorghi)                                                 Common Smut (Ustilago maydis)                                                 Eyespot (Kabatiella zeae)                                                     Goss's Wilt (Clavibacter michiganense spp. nebraskense)               3       Gray Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis)                                       Helminthosporium Leaf Spot (Bipolaris zeicola) Race.sub.  ----        3       Northern Leaf Blight ( Exserohilum turcicum) Race.sub.--------        5       Southern Leaf Blight ( Bipolaris maydis) Race.sub.--------                    Southern Rust ( Puccinia polysora)                                    6       Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia stewartii)                                            Other (Specify).sub.--------                                          B. Systemic Diseases                                                          5       Corn Lethal Necrosis (MCMV and MDMV)                                          Head Smut ( Sphacelotheca reiliana)                                           Maize Chlorotic Dwarf Virus (MDV)                                             Maize Chlorotic Mottle Virus (MCMV)                                   3       Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus (MDMV)                                               Sorghum Downy Mildew of Corn (Peronosclerospora sorghi)                       Other (Specify).sub.--------                                          C. Stalk Rots                                                                 4       Anthracnose Stalk Rot ( Colletotrichum graminicola)                           Diplodia Stalk Rot (Stenocarpella maydis)                                     Fusarium Stalk Rot (Fusarium moniliforme)                                     Gibberella Stalk Rot (Gibberella zeae)                                        Other (Specify).sub.--------                                          D. Ear and Kernel Rots                                                                Aspergillus Ear and Kernel Rot ( Aspergillus flavus)                  3       Diplodia Ear Rot (Stenocarpella maydis)                               5       Fusarium Ear and Kernel Rot (Fusarium moniliforme)                            Gibberella Ear Rot (Gibberella zeae)                                          Other (Specify).sub.--------                                                  Banks grass Mite ( Oligonychus pratensis)                                     Corn Worm (Helicoverpa zea)                                                   Leaf Feeding                                                                  Silk Feeding                                                                  mg larval wt.                                                                 Ear Damage                                                                    Corn Leaf Aphid (Rhopalosiphum maidis)                                        Corn Sap Beetle (Carpophilus dimidiatus                                       European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)                              5       1st Generation (Typically Whorl Leaf Feeding)                                 2nd Generation (Typically Leaf Sheath-Collar Feeding)                         Stalk Tunnellng                                                               cm tunneled/plant                                                             Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera fruqiperda)                                         Leaf Feeding                                                                  Silk Feeding                                                                  mg larval wt.                                                                 Maize Weevil (Sitophilus zeamaize                                             Northern Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi)                                        Southern Rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata)                                Southwestern Corn Borer (Diatreaea grandiosella)                              Leaf Feeding                                                                  Stalk Tunnellng                                                               cm tunneled/plant                                                             Two-spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)                                 Western Rootworm (Diabrotica virgifrea virgifera)                             Other (Specify).sub.--------                                          11. AGRONOMIC TRAITS:                                                               5  Staygreen (at 65 days after anthesis) (Rate on a scale from 1 =               worst to excellent)                                                  0.0      % Dropped Ears (at 65 days after anthesis)                                    % Pre-anthesis Brittle Snapping                                               % Pre-anthesis Root Lodging                                          1.8      Post-anthesis Root Lodging (at 65 days after anthesis)               3,320    Kg/ha Yield (at 12-13% grain moisture)                               __________________________________________________________________________     *In interpreting the foregoing color designations, reference may be had t     the Munsell Glossy Book of Color, a standard color reference.            

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention also is directed to methods for producing a maize plantby crossing a first parent maize plant with a second parent maize plantwherein either the first or second parent maize plant is an inbred maizeplant of the line PH24M. Further, both first and second parent maizeplants can come from the inbred maize line PH24M. Thus, any such methodsusing the inbred maize line PH24M are part of this invention: selfing,backcrosses, hybrid production, crosses to populations, and the like.All plants produced using inbred maize line PH24M as a parent are withinthe scope of this invention. Advantageously, the inbred maize line isused in crosses with other, different, maize inbreds to produce firstgeneration (F₁) maize hybrid seeds and plants with superiorcharacteristics.

As used herein, the term plant includes plant cells, plant protoplasts,plant cell tissue cultures from which maize plants can be regenerated,plant calli, plant clumps, and plant cells that are intact in plants orparts of plants, such as embryos, pollen, ovules, flowers, kernels,ears, cobs, leaves, husks, stalks, roots, root tips, anthers, silk andthe like.

Duncan, Williams, Zehr, and Widholm, Planta (1985) 165:322-332 reflectsthat 97% of the plants cultured that produced callus were capable ofplant regeneration. Subsequent experiments with both inbreds and hybridsproduced 91% regenerable callus that produced plants. In a further studyin 1988, Songstad, Duncan & Widholm in Plant Cell Reports (1988),7:262-265 reports several media additions that enhance regenerability ofcallus of two inbred lines. Other published reports also indicated that"nontraditional" tissues are capable of producing somatic embryogenesisand plant regeneration. K. P. Rao, et al., Maize Genetics CooperationNewsletter, 60:64-65 (1986), refers to somatic embryogenesis from glumecallus cultures and B. V. Conger, et al., Plant Cell Reports, 6:345-347(1987) indicates somatic embryogenesis from the tissue cultures of maizeleaf segments. Thus, it is clear from the literature that the state ofthe art is such that these methods of obtaining plants are, and were,"conventional" in the sense that they are routinely used and have a veryhigh rate of success.

Tissue culture of maize is described in European Patent Application,publication 160,390, incorporated herein by reference. Maize tissueculture procedures are also described in Green and Rhodes, "PlantRegeneration in Tissue Culture of Maize," Maize for Biological Research(Plant Molecular Biology Association, Charlottesville, Va. 1982, at367-372) and in Duncan, et al., "The Production of Callus Capable ofPlant Regeneration from Immature Embryos of Numerous Zea MaysGenotypes," 165 Planta 322-332 (1985). Thus, another aspect of thisinvention is to provide cells which upon growth and differentiationproduce maize plants having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of inbred line PH24M.

Maize is used as human food, livestock feed, and as raw material inindustry. The food uses of maize, in addition to human consumption ofmaize kernels, include both products of dry- and wet-milling industries.The principal products of maize dry milling are grits, meal and flour.The maize wet-milling industry can provide maize starch, maize syrups,and dextrose for food use. Maize oil is recovered from maize germ, whichis a by-product of both dry- and wet-milling industries.

Maize, including both grain and non-grain portions of the plant, is alsoused extensively as livestock feed, primarily for beef cattle, dairycattle, hogs, and poultry.

Industrial uses of maize include production of ethanol, maize starch inthe wet-milling industry and maize flour in the dry-milling industry.The industrial applications of maize starch and flour are based onfunctional properties, such as viscosity, film formation, adhesiveproperties, and ability to suspend particles. The maize starch and flourhave application in the paper and textile industries. Other industrialuses include applications in adhesives, building materials, foundrybinders, laundry starches, explosives, oil-well muds, and other miningapplications.

Plant parts other than the grain of maize are also used in industry: forexample, stalks and husks are made into paper and wallboard and cobs areused for fuel and to make charcoal.

The seed of inbred maize line PH24M, the plant produced from the inbredseed, the hybrid maize plant produced from the crossing of the inbred,hybrid seed, and various parts of the hybrid maize plant can be utilizedfor human food, livestock feed, and as a raw mineral in industry.

Performance Examples of PH24M

In the examples that follow, the traits and characteristics of inbredmaize line PH24M are presented as an inbred per se and in hybridcombination. The data collected on inbred maize line PH24M is presentedfor key characteristics and traits.

Inbred Comparisons

The results in Table 2A compare inbred PH24M to one of its parents,inbred PHR03. While the inbred per se results show inbred PH24M is loweryielding when compared to inbred PHR03, it demonstrates lower harvestmoisture and higher test weight than inbred PHR03. Both inbredsdemonstrate above average pollen weight, pollen score, tassel size andear size. Inbred PH24M demonstrates a significantly lower ear placementand better resistance to Southern Leaf Blight than inbred PHR03.

The results in Table 2B compare inbred PH24M to inbred PH56C, asimilarly adapted inbred. The inbred per se results show that inbredPH24M is higher yielding than inbred PH56C. Both demonstrate aboveaverage pollen scores and tassel size. Inbred PH24M demonstrates asignificantly higher early stand count and a significantly lower earplacement than inbred PH56C. Both inbreds exhibit above average earsize. Inbred PH24M shows better resistance to Anthracnose Stalk Rot andCommon Rust than inbred PH56C.

The results in Table 2C compare inbred PH24M to inbred PHBE2, asimilarly adapted inbred. The inbred per se results show that bothinbreds have well-above average pollen weight and above average pollenscores and tassel size. Inbred PH24M demonstrates a significantly higherearly stand count than PHBE2. Inbred PH24M exhibits a lower earplacement than inbred PHBE2. Inbred PH24M demonstrates above average andlarger ear size than inbred PHBE2. Inbred PH24M demonstratessignificantly better resistance to brittle stalk, Southern Leaf Blightand to Anthracnose Stalk Rot than inbred PHBE2.

Inbred By Tester Comparisons

The results in Table 3A compare inbred PH24M to inbred PH56C when eachinbred is crossed to the same tester lines. The PH24M hybrids are highyielding, demonstrating significantly lower harvest moisture andsignificantly higher test weight than the PH56C hybrids. The PH24Mhybrids exhibit significantly lower ear placement than the PH56Chybrids. The PH24M hybrids demonstrate significantly higher resistanceto root lodging than the PH56C hybrids. Both groups of hybrids exhibitvery good resistance to Southern Leaf Blight, with the PH24M hybridsshowing better resistance than the PH56C hybrids.

The results in Table 3B compare inbred PH24M to inbred PHR03 when eachinbred is crossed to the same tester lines. Both hybrids are highyielding. The PH24M hybrids exhibit lower ear height than the PHR03hybrids. The PH24M hybrids demonstrate better seedling vigor and betterresistance to root lodging and stalk lodging than the PHR03 hybrids. ThePH24M hybrids show very good resistance to Southern Leaf Blight.

The results in Table 3C compare inbred PH24M to inbred PHBE2 when eachinbred is crossed to the same tester lines. Both hybrids are very highyielding, with the PH24M hybrids demonstrating higher yields than thePHBE2 hybrids. The PH24M hybrids flower (GDU Shed and GDU Silk)significantly later than the PHBE2 hybrids. The PH24M hybridsdemonstrate better seedling vigor and significantly better resistance tostalk lodging than the PHBE2 hybrids.

Hybrid Comparisons

The results in Table 4A compare inbred PH24M crossed to inbred PH07D andinbred PHN46 crossed to PHKV1. Although the PH07D/PH24M hybriddemonstrates significantly lower yields than the PHKV1/PHN46 hybrid,both hybrids are above average yielding. In addition, the PH07D/PH24Mhybrid demonstrates a significantly higher test weight than thePHKV1/PHN46 hybrid. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid also exhibits significantlysuperior seedling vigor than the PHKV1/PHN46 hybrid. The PH07D/PH24Mhybrid exhibits significantly lower ear height than the PHKV1/PHN46hybrid. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid shows above average resistance to rootlodging and brittle stalks. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid demonstratessignificantly greater resistance to stalk lodging and a significantlybetter stay green score than the PHKV1/PHN46 hybrid. In addition, thePH07D/PH24M hybrid exhibits significantly greater resistance to GrayLeaf Spot, Southern Leaf Blight and Stewart's Wilt than the PHKV1/PHN46hybrid. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid also shows excellent resistance to Goss'Wilt and good resistance to Northern Leaf Blight, Anthracnose Stalk Rotand Common Rust. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid shows better resistance to Goss'Wilt, Anthracnose Stalk Rot and Common Rust than the PHKV1/PHN46 hybrid.

The results in Table 4B compare inbred PH24M crossed to inbred PH07D andinbred PHR03 crossed to PHW52. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid is equally highyielding and demonstrates a high test weight, as does the PHW52/PHR03hybrid. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid exhibits significantly greater resistanceto stalk lodging and a significantly better stay green score than thePHW52/PHR03 hybrid. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid demonstrates above averageresistance to root lodging and brittle stalk. The PH07D/PH24M hybridshows better resistance to root lodging than the PHW52/PHR03 hybrid. Inaddition, the PH07D/PH24M hybrid shows significantly greater resistanceto Gray Leaf Spot, Northern Leaf Blight, Southern Leaf Blight,Anthracnose Stalk Rot and Southern Rust than the PHW52/PHR03 hybrid.Both hybrids show excellent resistance to Goss' Wilt and PH07D/PH24M hasexcellent and better resistance to Stewart's Wilt than the PHW52/PHR03hybrid. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid also shows better resistance to CommonRust than the PHW52/PHR03 hybrid.

The results in Table 4C compare inbred PH24M crossed to inbred PH07D andinbred PHBE2 crossed to PH40B. The PH07D/PH24M hybrid demonstrateshigher yields than the PH40B/PHBE2 hybrid. The PH07D/PH24M hybriddemonstrates above average and better resistance to brittle stalks, rootlodging and stalk lodging than the PH40B/PHBE2 hybrid. The PH07D/PH24Mhybrid shows significantly greater resistance to Gray Leaf Spot andDiplodia Ear Mold than the PH40B/PHBE2 hybrid. Both hybrids exhibitexcellent resistance to Goss' Wilt and Stewart's Wilt.

                                      TABLE 2A                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT                                               VARIETY #1 = PH24M                                                            VARIETY #2 = PHR03                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU        TST  SDG  EST  TIL  GDU  GDU                                   ACR  ACR  MST  WT   VGR  CNT  LER  SHD  SLK                                   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   34.0 78   13.9 59.5 4.5  32.1 1.1  153.6                                                                              159.5                             2   45.0 103  14.4 58.5 5.4  31.8 1.0  154.2                                                                              158.0                             LOCS                                                                              7    7    7    3    52   89   60   100  100                               REPS                                                                              11   11   11   6    57   103  68   111  110                               DIFF                                                                              11.0 25   0.5  1.0  0.9  0.3  0.2  0.6  1.4                               PR > T                                                                            .080*                                                                              .127 .040+                                                                              .144 .000#                                                                              .798 .761 .201 .013+                      __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL  POL  TAS  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK                                   WT   WT   SC   SZ   HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG                                   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   213.1                                                                              123  6.1  6.0  83.9 27.9 99.4 4.6  99.0                              2   223.9                                                                              128  6.5  6.1  84.6 33.3 94.6 4.5  87.4                              LOCS                                                                              10   10   26   43   32   28   4    31   4                                 REPS                                                                              12   12   33   45   37   34   6    34   8                                 DIFF                                                                              10.9 5    0.4  0.1  0.7  5.5  4.7  0.1  11.6                              PR > T                                                                            .785 .807 .244 .512 .553 .000#                                                                              .258 .868 .347                       __________________________________________________________________________               BRT  GRN  SCT  EAR  TEX  EAR  BAR  DRP  GLF                                   STK  APP  GRN  SZ   EAR  MLD  PLT  EAR  SPT                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   97.5 7.8  5.9  6.6  6.3  5.9  95.5 99.5 3.3                               2   96.7 7.8  6.5  6.7  7.0  6.3  96.3 99.3 4.6                               LOCS                                                                              7    3    17   14   16   14   18   3    29                                REPS                                                                              10   6    18   14   16   15   18   6    43                                DIFF                                                                              0.8  0.0  0.6  0.1  0.8  0.4  0.8  0.2  1.3                               PR > T                                                                            .608 .999 .126 .807 .006#                                                                              .315 .797 .423 .000#                      __________________________________________________________________________               NLF  SLF  GOS  STW  ANT  HD        MDM  FUS                                   BLT  BLT  WLT  WLT  ROT  SMT  CLN  CPX  ERS                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   2.7  5.4  8.0  6.3  4.5  94.1 4.5  3.0  4.7                               2   4.0  3.8  8.0  6.6  3.9  83.8 5.5  3.4  6.5                               LOCS                                                                              12   8    1    6    8    3    1    5    17                                REPS                                                                              22   15   2    8    14   8    2    10   21                                DIFF                                                                              1.4  1.6  0.0  0.3  0.6  10.3 1.0  0.4  1.9                               PR > T                                                                            .001#                                                                              .015+     .394 .234 .071*     .242 .000#                      __________________________________________________________________________               DIP  COM  HC   ECB                                                            ERS  RST  BLT  1LF                                                            ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                                                 __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   3.0  4.3  6.0  6.5                                                        2   3.0  4.0  6.0  6.3                                                        LOCS                                                                              1    4    1    2                                                          REPS                                                                              2    5    1    2                                                          DIFF                                                                              0.0  0.3  0.0  0.2                                                        PR#> T   .391      .500                                                __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 2B                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT                                               VARIETY #1 = PH24M                                                            VARIETY #2 = PH56C                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU        TST  SDG  EST  TIL  GDU  GDU                                   ACR  ACR  MST  WT   VGR  CNT  LER  SHD  SLK                                   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   51.0 100  16.4 59.5 4.5  29.3 1.1  153.1                                                                              158.7                             2   38.5 74   16.2 56.8 4.9  23.5 2.3  153.8                                                                              157.8                             LOCS                                                                              4    4    4    3    39   68   49   82   80                                REPS                                                                              7    7    7    6    42   91   53   86   83                                DIFF                                                                              12.5 25   0.2  2.7  0.4  5.9  1.2  0.7  0.9                               PR > T                                                                            .108 .085*                                                                              .803 .245 .110 .000#                                                                              .065*                                                                              .278 .167                       __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL  POL  TAS  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK                                   WT   WT   SC   SZ   HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG                                   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   171.6                                                                              100  6.0  6.1  84.0 28.5 96.5 4.6  99.1                              2   294.2                                                                              179  6.7  6.1  86.0 33.6 94.5 4.8  91.7                              LOCS                                                                              4    4    15   38   28   23   3    28   3                                 REPS                                                                              4    4    15   39   32   27   4    31   6                                 DIFF                                                                              122.6                                                                              79   0.7  0.0  2.0  5.1  2.0  0.2  7.4                               PR > T                                                                            .052*                                                                              .083*                                                                              .119 .999 .147 .000#                                                                              .223 .633 .159                       __________________________________________________________________________               BRT  GRN  SCT  EAR  TEX  EAR  BAR  DRP  GLF                                   STK  APP  GRN  SZ   EAR  MLD  PLT  EAR  SPT                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   96.5 7.8  5.9  6.8  6.1  5.9  98.0 99.5 3.1                               2   78.5 6.3  6.0  6.8  6.4  5.0  94.2 99.0 4.3                               LOCS                                                                              4    3    15   12   13   14   17   3    22                                REPS                                                                              5    6    16   12   13   15   17   6    34                                DIFF                                                                              18.0 1.5  0.1  0.1  0.3  0.9  3.8  0.5  1.2                               PR > T                                                                            .182 .286 .843 .754 .303 .109 .047+                                                                              .657 .001#                      __________________________________________________________________________               NLF  SLF  STW  ANT  HD        MDM  FUS  DIP                                   BLT  BLT  WLT  ROT  SMT  CLN  CPX  ERS  ERS                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   2.8  5.3  6.3  4.8  94.1 4.5  2.8  4.7  3.0                               2   6.2  5.6  6.9  3.8  93.1 3.0  2.8  4.2  2.5                               LOCS                                                                              9    8    5    6    3    1    4    13   1                                 REPS                                                                              16   14   6    8    8    2    6    16   2                                 DIFF                                                                              3.4  0.4  0.6  1.1  1.0  1.5  0.0  0.5  0.5                               PR > T                                                                            .000#                                                                              .365 .208 .034+                                                                              .856      .999 .175                            __________________________________________________________________________               COM  HC                                                                       RST  BLT                                                                      ABS  ABS                                                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   4.1  6.0                                                                  2   3.2  5.0                                                                  LOCS                                                                              5    1                                                                    REPS                                                                              7    1                                                                    DIFF                                                                              0.9  1.0                                                                  PR > T                                                                            .021+                                                              __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 2C                                    __________________________________________________________________________    PAIRED INBRED COMPARISON REPORT                                               VARIETY #1 = PH24M                                                            VARIETY #2 = PHBE2                                                            __________________________________________________________________________               BU   BU        TST  SDG  EST  TIL  GDU  GDU                                   ACR  ACR  MST  WT   VGR  CNT  LER  SHD  SLK                                   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   49.2 95   16.9 58.8 4.6  29.9 1.2  153.9                                                                              159.7                             2   51.2 103  15.9 58.9 4.8  26.4 4.8  148.2                                                                              150.0                             LOCS                                                                              12   12   15   8    52   83   43   83   83                                REPS                                                                              17   17   23   15   60   118  48   92   91                                DIFF                                                                              2.0  7    1.1  0.1  0.2  3.4  3.6  5.7  9.7                               PR > T                                                                            .695 .606 .035+                                                                              .774 .416 .000#                                                                              .012+                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                      __________________________________________________________________________               POL  POL  POL  TAS  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK                                   WT   WT   SC   SZ   HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG                                   ABS  % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   239.3                                                                              145  6.0  6.0  84.6 28.2 98.5 4.6  91.1                              2   234.1                                                                              140  7.0  6.4  80.9 30.4 95.9 3.5  89.2                              LOCS                                                                              7    7    25   40   31   27   6    33   5                                 REPS                                                                              9    9    32   42   35   32   11   38   9                                 DIFF                                                                              5.2  5    1.0  0.4  3.7  2.2  2.6  1.1  1.8                               PR > T                                                                            .887 .795 .003#                                                                              .085*                                                                              .001#                                                                              .011+                                                                              .317 .011+                                                                              .679                       __________________________________________________________________________               BRT  GRN  SCT  EAR  TEX  EAR  BAR  GLF  NLF                                   STK  APP  GRN  SZ   EAR  MLD  PLT  SPT  BLT                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   97.1 6.1  5.9  6.6  6.3  5.9  95.0 3.3  2.6                               2   84.5 6.3  7.1  6.1  6.5  5.5  94.5 3.8  4.6                               LOCS                                                                              6    4    17   14   16   14   27   30   14                                REPS                                                                              9    8    18   14   16   15   29   47   26                                DIFF                                                                              12.6 0.1  1.3  0.6  0.3  0.4  0.6  0.5  2.0                               PR > T                                                                            .008#                                                                              .718 .002#                                                                              .026+                                                                              .164 .189 .645 .034+                                                                              .000#                      __________________________________________________________________________               SLF  GDS  STW  ANT  HD        MDM  FUS  DIP                                   BLT  WLT  WLT  ROT  SMT  CLN  CPX  ERS  ERS                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   5.3  8.0  6.3  4.4  94.1 4.5  2.9  4.8  3.0                               2   2.9  7.5  6.9  2.8  99.6 5.0  4.8  4.7  1.5                               LOCS                                                                              10   1    6    9    3    1    7    20   1                                 REPS                                                                              19   2    8    15   8    2    14   26   2                                 DIFF                                                                              2.5  0.5  0.7  1.7  5.5  0.5  1.9  0.1  1.5                               PR > T                                                                            .000#     .102 .001#                                                                              .339      .000#                                                                              .889                            __________________________________________________________________________               COM  HC   ECB                                                                 RST  BLT  1LF                                                                 ABS  ABS  ABS                                                      __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   4.3  6.0  6.5                                                             2   4.9  4.0  6.0                                                             LOCS                                                                              4    1    2                                                               REPS                                                                              5    1    2                                                               DIFF                                                                              0.6  2.0  0.5                                                             PR > T                                                                            .194      .500                                                     __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 3A                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH24M To PH56C Crossed         To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________               SEL       BU   BU   PRM       TST  SDG  EST   GDU                             IND  PRM  ACR  ACR  SHD  MST  WT   VGR  CNT   SHD                             % MN ABS  ABS  % MN ABS  % MN ABS  % MN % MN  %                    __________________________________________________________________________                                                             MN                   TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              18   34   183  183  9    192  69   64   70    10                          LOCS                                                                              18   34   170  170  9    176  64   64   64    10                          PH24M                                                                             104  117  164  100  117  97   58   90   99    101                         PH56C                                                                             102  119  170  103  117  101  57   96   101   102                         DIFF                                                                              2    2    5    3    0    4    1    6    1     1                           PR > T                                                                            0.55 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.99 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.28  0.60                 __________________________________________________________________________               GDU  STK  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK  BRT  GRN   SLF                             SLK  CNT  HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG  STK  APP   BLT                             % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN  ABS                  __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              6    199  94   95   65   88   119  3    13    12                          LOCS                                                                              6    183  82   83   59   78   115  3    13    10                          PH24M                                                                             101  99   100  97   107  92   101  94   101   7                           PH56C                                                                             100  100  103  105  99   97   101  89   100   6                           DIFF                                                                              1    1    3    8    8    4    1    6    1     1                           PR > T                                                                            0.56 0.45 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.13 0.58 0.49 0.78  0.21                 __________________________________________________________________________               FUS  COM  DRP  GLF                                                            ERS  RST  EAR  SPT                                                            ABS  ABS  % MN ABS                                                 __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              4    2    6    10                                                         LOCS                                                                              4    2    6    10                                                         PH24M                                                                             6    5    100  5                                                          PH56C                                                                             6    6    100  5                                                          DIFF                                                                              1    1    0    0                                                          PR > T                                                                            0.39      0.99 0.99                                                __________________________________________________________________________     *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons with Locs >= 10.           

                                      TABLE 3B                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH24M To PHR03 Crossed         To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________               SEL       BU   BU   PRM       TST  SDG  EST   GDU                             IND  PRM  ACR  ACR  SHD  MST  WT   VGR  CNT   SHD                             % MN ABS  ABS  % MN ABS  % MN ABS  % MN % MN  %                    __________________________________________________________________________                                                             MN                   TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              12   14   66   66   5    77   39   25   34    7                           LOCS                                                                              12   14   61   61   5    68   37   24   32    7                           PH24M                                                                             100  113  162  101  114  97   58   103  102   100                         PHR03                                                                             101  114  164  103  114  98   58   94   103   100                         DIFF                                                                              1    0    2    2    0    1    0    9    1     0                           PR > T                                                                            0.70 0.99 0.47 0.34 0.99 0.37 0.99 0.08 0.66  0.99                 __________________________________________________________________________               GDU  STK  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK  BRT  GRN   SLF                             SLK  CNT  HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG  STK  APP   BLT                             % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN  ABS                  __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              6    79   31   32   26   44   55   5    12    4                           LOCS                                                                              6    70   29   30   21   40   50   3    12    3                           PH24M                                                                             100  100  100  99   93   71   98   102  98    7                           PHR03                                                                             100  99   102  103  83   75   96   96   103   5                           DIFF                                                                              0    1    2    4    10   3    2    5    4     2                           PR > T                                                                            0.99 0.30 0.14 0.04 0.08 0.45 0.17 0.21 0.17  0.34                 __________________________________________________________________________               FUS  DRP                                                                      ERS  EAR                                                                      ABS  % MN                                                          __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              2    6                                                                    LOCS                                                                              2    6                                                                    PH24M                                                                             5    100                                                                  PHR03                                                                             6    101                                                                  DIFF                                                                              1    1                                                                    PR > T                                                                            0.50 0.36                                                          __________________________________________________________________________     *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons with Locs >= 10.           

                                      TABLE 3C                                    __________________________________________________________________________    Average Inbred By Tester Performance Comparing PH24M To PHBE2 Crossed         To The Same Inbred Testers And Grown In The Same Experiments.                 __________________________________________________________________________               SEL       BU   BU   PRM       TST  SDG  EST   GDU                             IND  PRM  ACR  ACR  SHD  MST  WT   VGR  CNT   SHD                             % MN ABS  ABS  % MN ABS  % MN ABS  % MN % MN  %                    __________________________________________________________________________                                                             MN                   TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              10   21   78   78   12   80   62   32   40    15                          LOCS                                                                              10   21   78   78   12   80   62   32   40    15                          PH24M                                                                             104  114  183  104  116  100  57   96   99    102                         PHBE2                                                                             99   115  176  100  114  101  57   90   98    99                          DIFF                                                                              4    1    7    4    2    0    0    6    2     3                           PR > T                                                                            0.26 0.16 0.02 0.04 0.00 0.99 0.99 0.11 0.32  0.00                 __________________________________________________________________________               GDU  STK  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK  BRT  GRN   ECB                             SLK  CNT  HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG  STK  APP   2SC                             % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN  ABS                  __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              12   92   38   39   38   42   60   7    26    1                           LOCS                                                                              12   91   38   39   37   42   59   7    26    1                           PH24M                                                                             102  99   102  101  94   103  101  101  102   1                           PHBE2                                                                             98   99   99   100  94   111  94   77   97    1                           DIFF                                                                              3    0    3    1    0    7    7    24   5     0                           PR > T                                                                            0.00 0.99 0.00 0.49 0.99 0.06 0.00 0.14 0.09  0.99                 __________________________________________________________________________               DRP  GLF                                                                      EAR  SPT                                                                      % MN ABS                                                           __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            REPS                                                                              18   7                                                                    LOCS                                                                              18   7                                                                    PH24M                                                                             100  3                                                                    PHBE2                                                                             99   4                                                                    DIFF                                                                              1    1                                                                    PR > T                                                                            0.14 0.29                                                          __________________________________________________________________________     *PR > T values are valid only for comparisons with Locs >= 10.           

                                      TABLE 4A                                    __________________________________________________________________________    INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT                                          VARIETY #1 = PH07D/PH24M                                                      VARIETY #2 = PHKV1/PHN46                                                      __________________________________________________________________________                    PRM  BU   BU        TST  SDG  EST  GDU                                   PRM  SHD  ACR  ACR  MST  WT   VGR  CNT  SHD                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  % MN % MN ABS  % MN % MN % MN                       __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   114  116  167.4                                                                              102  100  58.0 104  96   103                               2   115  117  174.3                                                                              106  101  56.0 87   103  105                               LOCS                                                                              30   22   170  170  173  74   84   108  34                                REPS                                                                              30   22   198  198  201  80   98   122  43                                DIFF                                                                              0    2    7.0  4    1    2.1  16   7    2                                 PR > T                                                                            .999 .001#                                                                              .007#                                                                              .005#                                                                              .011+                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .001#                      __________________________________________________________________________               GDU  STK  FLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK  BRT  GRN                                   SLK  CNT  HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG  STK  APP                                   % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN                       __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   104  99   103  99   109  122  109  101  118                               2   105  102  103  113  104  110  98   100  99                                LOCS                                                                              23   251  89   91   40   99   83   11   13                                REPS                                                                              23   324  103  105  43   116  91   15   13                                DIFF                                                                              1    2    1    14   4    13   11   1    19                                PR > T                                                                            .263 .000#                                                                              .136 .000#                                                                              .340 .000#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .856 .001#                      __________________________________________________________________________               DRP  GLF  NLF  SLF  GOS  STW  ANT  HD                                         EAR  SPT  BLT  BLT  WLT  WLT  ROT  SMT  CLN                                   % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   97   5.7  5.1  5.8  8.0  8.0  5.0  100.0                                                                              8.0                               2   98   2.7  5.9  3.0  7.3  7.0  3.1  100.0                                                                              3.0                               LOCS                                                                              19   25   4    5    2    2    4    1    1                                 REPS                                                                              20   36   9    9    4    2    8    2    2                                 DIFF                                                                              1    3.0  0.8  2.8  0.8  1.0  1.9  0.0  5.0                               PR > T                                                                            .413 .000#                                                                              .086*                                                                              .001#                                                                              .500 .000#                                                                              .022+                                __________________________________________________________________________               MDM  FUS  COM  SOU  ECB  ECB                                                  CPX  ERS  RST  RST  DPE  2SC                                                  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                                       __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   2.9  5.0  5.5  4.0  98.0 5.0                                              2   4.0  5.6  3.5  4.5  100.0                                                                              4.3                                              LOCS                                                                              3    4    2    2    1    3                                                REPS                                                                              8    6    3    4    1    3                                                DIFF                                                                              1.1  0.6  2.0  0.5  2.0  0.7                                              PR > T                                                                            .069*                                                                              .600 .295 .000#     .529                                      __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 4B                                    __________________________________________________________________________    INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT                                          VARIETY #1 = PH07D/PH24M                                                      VARIETY #2 = PHW52/PHR03                                                      __________________________________________________________________________                    PRM  BU   BU        TST  SDG  EST  GDU                                   PRM  SHD  ACR  ACR  MST  WT   VGR  CNT  SHD                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  % MN % MN ABS  % MN % MN % MN                       __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   114  116  171.3                                                                              102  100  58.0 105  97   104                               2   115  114  173.3                                                                              103  100  58.0 108  103  101                               LOCS                                                                              41   29   214  214  215  103  101  117  43                                REPS                                                                              41   29   243  243  244  107  120  127  51                                DIFF                                                                              0    2    2.0  1    0    0.0  4    7    2                                 PR > T                                                                            .999 .000#                                                                              .271 .320 .999 .999 .263 .000#                                                                              .000#                      __________________________________________________________________________               GDU  STK  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK  BRT  GRN                                   SLK  CNT  HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG  STK  APP                                   % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN                       __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   104  100  103  99   107  120  106  101  107                               2   103  102  98   97   100  98   99   101  105                               LOCS                                                                              33   275  109  113  66   121  127  14   27                                REPS                                                                              35   342  127  131  83   140  150  20   27                                DIFF                                                                              1    2    5    2    8    23   7    0    2                                 PR > T                                                                            .001#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .004#                                                                              .177 000# .000#                                                                              .999 .617                       __________________________________________________________________________               DRP  GLF  NLF  SLF  GOS  STW  ANT  HD                                         EAR  SPT  BLT  BLT  WLT  WLT  ROT  SMT  CLN                                   % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   99   5.9  5.1  6.0  8.0  8.0  4.9  99.0 8.0                               2   101  4.1  3.2  4.6  8.0  4.5  2.7  98.4 5.0                               LOCS                                                                              25   32   10   6    3    2    5    3    1                                 REPS                                                                              27   45   21   11   6    2    10   8    2                                 DIFF                                                                              2    1.8  1.9  1.4  0.0  3.5  2.2  0.6  3.0                               PR > T                                                                            .406 .000#                                                                              .000#                                                                              .003#                                                                              .999 .090*                                                                              .006#                                                                              .780                            __________________________________________________________________________               MDM  FUS  DIP  COM  SOU  ECB  ECB                                             CPX  ERS  ERS  RST  RST  DPE  2SC                                             ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                                  __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   2.9  5.5  4.8  5.5  4.0  98.0 4.7                                         2   2.6  5.9  4.5  4.0  2.5  96.2 4.8                                         LOCS                                                                              4    6    2    2    2    1    11                                          REPS                                                                              10   8    3    3    4    1    14                                          DIFF                                                                              0.4  0.4  0.3  1.5  1.5  1.8  0.1                                         PR > T                                                                            .058*                                                                              .542 .874 .205 .000#     .889                                 __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

                                      TABLE 4C                                    __________________________________________________________________________    INBREDS IN HYBRID COMBINATION REPORT                                          VARIETY #1 = PH07D/PH24M                                                      VARIETY #2 = PH40B/PHBE2                                                      __________________________________________________________________________                    PRM  BU   BU        TST  SDG  EST  GDU                                   PRM  SHD  ACR  ACR  MST  WT   VGR  CNT  SHD                                   ABS  ABS  ABS  % MN % MN ABS  % MN % MN % MN                       __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   114  116  166.1                                                                              104  101  58.0 104  99   104                               2   114  113  161.4                                                                              101  101  57.7 121  102  101                               LOCS                                                                              19   21   91   91   91   45   59   48   32                                REPS                                                                              19   21   113  113  113  48   77   55   41                                DIFF                                                                              0    3    4.7  3    1    0.3  18   3    3                                 PR > T                                                                            .999 .000#                                                                              .070*                                                                              .106 .292 .136 .000#                                                                              .045+                                                                              .000#                      __________________________________________________________________________               GDU  STK  PLT  EAR  RT   STA  STK  BRT  GRN                                   SLK  CNT  HT   HT   LDG  GRN  LDG  STK  APF                                   % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN % MN                       __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   105  100  104  101  108  118  105  105  112                               2   101  100  104  104  99   117  103  87   112                               LOCS                                                                              22   123  56   56   38   48   58   11   10                                REPS                                                                              24   184  71   71   51   62   75   19   10                                DIFF                                                                              4    1    0    2    9    1    2    17   0                                 PR > T                                                                            .000#                                                                              .425 .999 .110 .184 .844 094* .089*                                                                              .999                       __________________________________________________________________________               DRP  GLF  NLF  SLF  GOS  STW  ANT  HD                                         EAR  SPT  BLT  BLT  WLT  WLT  ROT  SMT  CLN                                   % MN ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                        __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   99   5.6  5.1  6.0  8.0  8.0  4.9  99.0 8.0                               2   99   4.8  4.4  5.3  8.0  8.0  3.8  99.6 7.5                               LOCS                                                                              5    24   9    6    3    2    5    3    1                                 REPS                                                                              5    35   18   11   6    2    10   8    2                                 DIFF                                                                              0    0.9  0.7  0.8  0.0  0.0  1.1  0.6  0.5                               PR > T                                                                            .999 .001#                                                                              .059*                                                                              .178 .999 .999 .051*                                                                              .666                            __________________________________________________________________________               MDM  FUS  DIP  COM  SOU  ECB  ECB                                             CPX  ERS  ERS  RST  RST  DFE  2SC                                             ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS  ABS                                  __________________________________________________________________________    TOTAL SUM                                                                            1   2.9  5.0  4.8  5.5  4.0  98.0 5.0                                         2   5.4  3.9  3.8  6.0  5.5  94.2 5.5                                         LOCS                                                                              4    4    2    2    2    1    12                                          REPS                                                                              10   6    3    3    4    1    15                                          DIFF                                                                              2.4  1.1  1.0  0.5  1.5  3.7  0.5                                         PR > T                                                                            .007#                                                                              .186 .000#                                                                              .500 .000#     .254                                 __________________________________________________________________________     * = 10% SIG                                                                   + = 5% SIG                                                                    # = 1% SIG                                                               

Deposits

Applicant has made a deposit of at least 2500 seeds of Inbred Maize LinePH24M with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), Manassas, Va.20110 USA, ATCC Deposit No. 209661. The seeds deposited with the ATCC onMar. 10, 1998 were taken from the deposit maintained by Pioneer Hi-BredInternational, Inc., 700 Capital Square, 400 Locust Street, Des Moines,Iowa 50309-2340 since prior to the filing date of this application. Thisdeposit of the Inbred Maize Line PH24M will be maintained in the ATCCdepository, which is a public depository, for a period of 30 years, or 5years after the most recent request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if it becomesnonviable during that period. Additionally, Applicant has satisfied allthe requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§1.801-1.809, including providing anindication of the viability of the sample. Applicant imposes norestrictions on the availability of the deposited material from theATCC; however, Applicant has no authority to waive any restrictionsimposed by law on the transfer of biological material or itstransportation in commerce. Applicant does not waive any infringement ofits rights granted under this patent or under the Plant VarietyProtection Act (7 USC 2321 et seq.). U.S. Plant Variety Protection ofPH24M has been applied for under Application No. 9700223.

The foregoing invention has been described in detail by way ofillustration and example for purposes of clarity and understanding.However, it will be obvious that certain changes and modifications suchas single gene modifications and mutations, somoclonal variants, variantindividuals selected from large populations of the plants of the instantinbred and the like may be practiced within the scope of the invention,as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. Seed of maize inbred line designated PH24M,representative samples having been deposited under ATCC Accession No.209661.
 2. A maize plant, or parts thereof, having all the physiologicaland morphological characteristics of inbred line PH24M, representativeseed of said line having been deposited under ATCC accession No. 209661.3. The maize plant of claim 2, wherein said plant is male sterile.
 4. Atissue culture of regenerable cells of a maize plant of inbred linePH24M, wherein the tissue regenerates plants capable of expressing allthe morphological and physiological characteristics of the inbred linePH24M, representative seed of which have been deposited under ATCCAccession No.
 209661. 5. A tissue culture according to claim 4, thecells or protoplasts being of a tissue selected from the groupconsisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, silks,flowers, kernels, ears, cobs, husks, and stalks.
 6. A maize plantregenerated from the tissue culture of claim 4, capable of expressingall the morphological and physiological characteristics of inbred linePH24M, representative seed of which have been deposited under ATCCAccession No.
 209661. 7. A method for producing a first generation (F₁)hybrid maize seed comprising crossing the plant of claim 2 with adifferent inbred parent maize plant and harvesting the resultant firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid maize seed.
 8. The method of claim 7 whereininbred maize plant of claim 2 is the female or male parent.
 9. An F₁hybrid seed produced by crossing the inbred maize plant according toclaim 2 with another, different maize plant.
 10. An F₁ hybrid plant, orparts thereof, grown from the seed of claim
 9. 11. A process forproducing inbred PH24M comprising:planting a collection of seedcomprising seed of a hybrid, one of whose parents is Inbred PH24M saidcollection also comprising seed of said inbred; growing plants from saidcollection of seed; identifying said inbred plants; selecting saidinbred plant; and controlling pollination in a manner which preservesthe homozygosity of said inbred plant.
 12. The process of claim 11wherein said step of identifying said inbred plant comprises:identifyingplants with decreased vigor.
 13. The process of claim 11 wherein saidstep of identifying said inbred plant comprises:identifying seeds orplants with homozygous genotype.